Martiniano D. Ortega

Martiniano Domingo Ortego was born to Luzviminda and Theodoro Ortego on July 2, 1930. He was the oldest of nine children. He was born and raised in Santa Mesa, Manila.

Martiniano attended primary school at Pio del Pilar Elementary School. He went on to secondary school at Mappa High School in Escaraga, Manila and graduated high school at the age of 14. Martiniano obtained his first job at the age of 16 working for the Shell Company of the Philippines as a laborer. He would work all day and would study at night. At the age of 19, he graduated at the Arellano College. Although he wanted to pursue higher education, he instead helped support his family and help his younger siblings finish school. When he was 20 years-old, he was promoted to a clerk. Martiniano married Flora Torrijos when he was 29 years-old. Martiniano and Flora went on to have four children, Daisy, Rose Anne (Annie), Marvin, and Martin Jr. In 2009, Martiniano and Flora celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Martiniano worked for Shell for a total of 35 years then retired. When he reached tenure of 20 years at Shell, he received a medal as a diligent worker. One year after retiring, Martiniano was petitioned by his daughter, Annie, to come to the United States. After two years in the U.S., he began working for Marriott Hotel in downtown San Diego as a hotel attendant. He worked at Marriott for 5 years, retiring when he was 60 years-old.

Martiniano identified having children, coming to the United States, getting a job in the U.S., and having twelve grandchildren as the most impactful moments of his life. He has also had his own share of life misfortunes and overcoming each of them was an accomplishment. Other significant accomplishments consist of providing his children with a good education, while also providing them with a stable home. His fondest and most significant memories were visiting Japan and Hawaii, as well as Canada and Las Vegas. “I was able to go to Hawaii to see people, see different faces. One of the best things in my life, I was able to go there. I remember going to the department stores there and the cinema and was able to go to Japan! Yeah! I was able to see Japan, see other places. I was able to go to Canada! I was able to go to Las Vegas!” For his pastime, he enjoyed spending time at the senior citizen center, solving crossword puzzles, watching ESPN and NBA Basketball, and going to the casino. He especially loved listening to his oldies music, particularly the tunes of Engelbert Humperdink and Ray Coniff. “Music is the language of the soul,” he would say.

Martiniano had a strong faith in God. His religiosity and spirituality were of utmost importance to him, giving him strength and hope, and carrying him through his health woes. “Without my faith and religion and without my faith in God, I would not have survived these maladies and sicknesses. God is good, God is great, God is merciful.” Among all the doctor’s visits, hospitalizations, and surgeries, he was always grateful to be alive. “That’s why I always say, if you call on God, believe in him, you’ll live longer.”

Martiniano himself and those who knew him would agree that he lived a long, fulfilled life. “I lived a great life. With the help of God, I was able to survive all the hardships that comes and goes. That’s the most important thing. I was able to survive all the hardships and traumas of life. Without the help of God, I would not have survived this long.”

Martiniano passed away on Mother’s Day, May 13, 2012 at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in San Diego, California. His death was caused by an aggressive and malignant Leukemia/Lymphoma, which caused his organs to deteriorate at a rapid rate. Coincidentally, it was also his mother’s birthday.

Martiniano D. Ortega is survived by his wife, Flora Ortega, his children, Daisy, Annie, Marvin, Martin Jr., Julie Anne, and 12 grandchildren: Martin John (Marjo), Bryan (BJ), Lorenz, Luveth, Jeffrey, Jacqueline, Marianne, Marvin, Jennifer, Mark, Michelle, and Kristine.

Per his wishes, he will be cremated and his final resting place will be in the home of his second daughter, Annie Jimenez, in Chula Vista, California.